The Maple Arboretum

This project arose because the new Waikato Expressway cut off a large piece of land which had been used for grazing. The Waipa District Council incorporated it into the adjoining Brian Mayo Reserve, and one of our members, Jane Moodie, came up with the idea of a maple arboretum similar to the older oak arboretum nearby. The Council's Parks Dept. approved, so areas were marked out, sprayed to clear, and mulched. Jane, with Jan Todd, then set about selecting plants for stage 1.

In the winter of 2015, we planted the first section. We put rabbit protection around the saplings and staked them. They're growing well.

There is a long stretch of parkland between the road and the houses which we will develop along the same lines. We will have to be careful here, as the trees are much closer to the houses. In stage 1, we have graded the trees, with the smaller ones closest to the houses, and we have left large spaces between plantings for ease of mowing with a tractor-mounted mower.

We have to acknowledge gifts of posts from Mitre 10 and stainless steel plates for labels from Cambridge Sheet Metals. Engraving was done by a company in Te Rapa at a very favourable price.

The Community Board approved a $1000 grant for this project which enabled us to launch the project with minimal cost to the Trust. We are very grateful for their support.

There is potential for this project to be extended as reserve land on the western edge of the expressway is further developed by the Waipa Council.

There could be a number of years future planting here for us. 2016 saw more maples planted here, and 2017 has been devoted to mulching the large areas the trees are growing in. They have been put into their permanent places, so there is a lot of space between them at this early stage.

Click on a photo to enlarge it, and hover your mouse over a side to bring up arrows to move to another picture.

58. Japanese maple, Thornton Rd. In 1877 some missionaries donated three Janpanese maples to Cambridge. These were the parents of many such trees lining Thornton Rd., Hamilton Rd., and others. This last surviving tree stands at the western end of the tennis courts on Thornton Rd.

Maple Arboretum 1A wide view of the area involved, looking towards the new Expressway. November 2015.

Maple Arboretum 2Stainless steel label.

Maple Arboretum 3Growing well in November 2015.

Maple Arboretum 4Stainless steel label on a post.

Maple Arboretum 8Well under way in November 2015.

Maple Arboretum 7Stainless steel label.

Maple Arboretum 5Trees planted in 2015, photographed in November 2015.

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